I’m not an expert in Live Edge work. I’m doing this blog because I’m making this as a wedding gift, and I thought the recipients might find it interesting after they receive it. Perhaps some folks on LJ might find it helpful as they work through similar issues.

I found an image on the net that serves as an inspirationIt will not be a copy at all, since I’ll be using a thinner slab, different wood, and a variation on the design. I’d already decided to do a waterfall leg on one side. Like this image, I’ll do the shelf (requested) and the other leg in a darker wood—walnut that I’ve darkened using this dye method.

I will not do a wraparound of this leg, but will inset it a couple of inches like a more conventional leg.

Today I spent more time flattening it, partially to make it a bit thinner for the crosscutting. It started out at 1 5/8”, and it is about 1 15/32”. I took a pretty good layer off the bottom first, making it easier for attached the conventional leg when the time comes. I got almost all of the convex out of it.I then flipped it over and took a thinner layer of the top off. This took most of the curve left on the edges, but left just a little in places (which I like). I think the board is looking really, really good at this point.

Because of the router jig, I can’t use dust collection. So, if you’d like to see how much is created in wood chips from two layers off the bottom and three layers off the top of this board, this is what it looks like. That’s a full-size broom in the pic, btw.

Next will be to take the bark off with an edge grinder (what I haven’t already knocked off), sanding it a bit, and preparing the big crosscut. I’m considering making a jig for the router to cut the hidden splines in the joint. All that comes next.

-- "Man is the only animal which devours his own, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor." ~Thomas Jefferson